Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Kampong Thom, Stung Treng and Ratanakkiri provinces may be flooded by rains on August 20-23 as low-lying areas adjacent to waterways in the provinces once received high rainfall, according to a notice from the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology.
The August 19 notice said that the low pressure valley from India and the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) happening in northern Cambodia were affecting Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. Coupled with an active low pressure area in the Tonkin Sea and with the acceleration of the southwest monsoons, it could cause rains that may leave five provinces in Cambodia flooded.
“That situation could cause flooding in low-lying areas adjacent to waterways in those provinces which have already received high rainfall,” according to the notice.
Provinces in the Dangrek Mountain range and Northeastern highlands are likely to receive moderate-to-heavy rainfall, while other provinces and Phnom Penh are likely to receive low-to medium-rainfall.
At the same time, there may be heavy rainfall in areas of precipitation throughout the Mekong Basin, which may cause the river’s waters to rise again.